Clergy: Hospital Workers Intimidated

by Melinda Tuhus | December 4, 2006 1:48 PM | | Comments (7)

With the election to organize 1,800 blue-collar workers at Yale-New Haven Hospital just a few weeks away, pro-union clergy (pictured) gathered Monday to cry foul, saying the hospital is not sticking to an historic Conduct Agreement struck in March.

Clergy called for a Day of Prayer for Yale-New Haven Hospital Workers on Sunday, December 10.

The union election is scheduled for December 20 and 21. After meeting with Mayor John DeStefano in his office Monday morning, half a dozen members of the clergy held a brief news conference on the steps of City Hall. They expressed concerns about “intimidation” of workers by the hospital, but provided no details. They added that they are seeking a follow-up meeting with YNHH president Marna Borgstrom, so far without success.

Rev. Jose Champagne (speaking) , president of AHMEN, the Hispanic clergy association, made an effort not to take sides. “We want the election to be transparent, just, and not influenced by either the hospital or the union. We want to be mediators in favor of the community so that everyone can benefit. We’ve received information that some workers have felt intimidated to not sign in favor of the union. Hundreds of hospital workers attend our churches and our places of worship “” what we are hearing from some of these workers is of serious concern to us.”

Reached at his office in Hartford, SEIU District 1199 chief organizer Dave Pickus said, “We believe the hospital is violating both the letter and the spirit of the agreement.” He said the union has alerted the arbitrator who will oversee the election, contacted public officials who were involved in brokering the agreement, and has gotten in touch with clergy supporters.

“The hospital has put out leaflets and has been holding meetings that we believe violate the agreement or are designed to circumvent the agreement. They’re trying to create an atmosphere filled with threats and intimidation, telling them if they organize the union, very bad things will happen.” Like losing their benefits, Pickus says.

Vin Petrini, YNHH senior vice president for communications, said he’s disappointed by the charges. “The hospital is firmly committed to abiding by the agreement. We’ve run a smart, clean and truthful campaign.” He noted that either side can contact the arbitrator with any concerns.

Pickus denied that the dearth of public appearances by the workers themselves “” or any public statement by a worker who feels the Conduct Agreement was violated “” indicates any lack of support for the union. “That’s not been the intent of where the campaign is,” he says. “It’s about workers having a fair process to have a choice whether they wish to have a union or not.” But, despite their fears of retaliation, workers have spoken out in the past, and not having any employees to put a face on the union’s concerns makes it hard to judge the pro-union supporters’ charges.

Andrea van den Heever, from the union-affiliated Connecticut Center for a New Economy, was at City Hall Monday morning. She said the conflict with YNHH is a moral issue, and that’s why the clergy are involved, “because the hospital pledged to enter into a new relationship with the community, and of course, all 1,800 people live, and go to church, and are our neighbors and friends, and so the efforts to scare them is just not acceptable.”







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Comments

Posted by: Evan | December 4, 2006 10:26 PM

Wow, nothing like the moral authority of
New Haven's biggest bigots">http://www.newhavenindependent.org/archives/2006/11/gay_marriage_op.php>bigots. Too bad they apparently have no desire to show any compassion for our "neighbors and friends" who are gay. Preaching social justice only when it's convenient doesn't cut it.

Posted by: Voter at YNH | December 4, 2006 10:28 PM

You have to be kidding me. We are not suffering nor do we need prayer. We have asked for information and this information is being provided to us. I have never felt pressured one way or the other, but I do enjoy knowing both the Hospital and the Union's point of view. I will make my choice UNINTIMIDATED in the voting booth and no one will know who I choose.

Not even my manager. I am not scared and not afraid. My Christmas gift will be seeing those kids out of OUR HOSPITAL.

Posted by: B | December 4, 2006 10:35 PM

To all those looking to vote union...do some serious research on the effects of similar unions on other hospitals and their employees around the country.
Don't believe the hype. Though this may not be the case with Yale, many Union leaders want you to make sacrifices because they believe in stabilizing their own financial positions, not bettering yours.
Remember that these are people who have to decided to make a living out of complaining.
When a salesman only has bad products to sell, does he stop selling or does he just sell harder?
...for those set to accuse, I have no attachment to the hospital, I am not an employer, nor am I republican.

Posted by: TSN | December 5, 2006 7:58 AM

What is the Connecticut Center for a New Economy? Who is the Connecticut Center for a New Economy? Don't be fooled, it is a union front.

These "kids" are college graduates activists many from other parts of the country. In the old days, unions had local control and local folks organizing.

It seems that they (the national union strategists) have hijacked some local clergy of a few small store front churches, who are desperate to have the same profile that "the Mayor's favorite felon," the Rev. Bosie Kimber, has in the African American community and political circles of this city.

They (the union) has their election day. May the employees have their say now.

And by the way, have those Hispanic Clergy who endorced Senator Joe been investigated by the IRS for violating the prohibition against involving their churches in partisan politics?

Posted by: Ned | December 5, 2006 8:10 AM

The "clergy" would know all about intimidation, as that is their main modus operandi - threatening people, especially little children with threats of eternal torture - nice. And I'm not buying the social justice bs either. Homophobic bigots trying to boost their political clout. What a bunch of charlatans. As for being a "moral issue" what does religion have to do with morality: absolutely NOTHING.

Posted by: THREEFIFTHS | December 5, 2006 12:23 PM

What Do You Expect Of These Pulpit Pimps, All They
Do Is Pimp Gods Word And Then Preach Cheap Feel
Good Thrills On Sunday To A Bunch Of Sucks In The
Congregation Wait On The Second Coming!! I Agree
With TSN They Should Be Investigated By The IRS.

Posted by: Duane | December 5, 2006 2:20 PM

The real question is: Why is the hospital working so hard to keep the union out? The answer is that it will cost the hospital money and power, both of which the hospital has in abundance and should share with its workers. The unions on the university side of town have raised the standard of living for the employees and for the whole community. They've also made peace with the employer in a new, productive partnership. With all that in mind, the question remains: Why is the hospital working so hard to keep the union out?

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